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I love everything about the NFL draft.  It’s mock draft season and I’m jumping in hip deep.  Unfortunately, my opinions are based on limited information.  Watching the odd game in the regular season, Senior Bowl practice, and Combine Coverage are basically all I have to go on.  I would review all of the game tapes from each player if I had access to them and the time to watch.  Since I don’t, I have to rely on scuttlebutt and the assessments of others.   (The inference that my choices would be absolutely perfect if I had access to all of the information available is completely intentional!)  At any rate, here’s my two cents.

MCNABB TRADE UPDATE:  I think the Rams will pick Bradford but I’m going with who I would pick, not who I think the teams will pick.  Because I have the Rams picking Suh, and Bradford going to Washington the McNabb trade changes who I have going to Washington and opens up a bunch of different scenarios.

RELEASE OF BULGER UPDATE:  Alas, all of those scenarios will not come into play.   The release of Mark Bulger means the Rams do not have a decent QB on the roster.  Even I would pick Bradford now if I’m their GM.  However, I’m leaving in my original entries. 

CLAUSEN PRO DAY UPDATE:  I ain’t takin’ the cheese.  Every year momentum builds for a player based upon what he does in gym shorts and talk.  I’m holding steadfast to what I saw on the field.  Clausen is a better than average college quarterback with some pro potential.  That’s it.  He is not likely to be a franchise quarterback.  Of course only time will tell, but my guess is in 3 years, the team that drafts Clausen will still be looking for their “franchise” quarterback.  That’s my belief and the reason he does not appear in my mock draft.

SANTONIO HOLMES TRADE UPDATE:  Though stunning to see how little he was traded for, I don’t think it affects my mock draft.

1)  St. Louis Rams

I understand the Sam Bradford argument:  If you don’t have a franchise QB and have the opportunity to get a franchise QB you take it.  I’ve made that argument myself.  If I followed it, I might have stuck my franchise with Brady Quinn.  That’s the danger in forcing a QB up the draft board.  So that’s the first question I ask.  Is Bradford worthy of the 1^st pick or am I reaching?  I need to truly believe he has what it takes to be one of the top QBs in the NFL.  The NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi advocates picking Bradford based on the fact that the Rams have passed on QBs in the last two drafts.  That’s a ridiculous line of reasoning and a classic example of Monday morning quarterbacking.    Just because Chris Long and Jason Smith haven’t turned out to be worthy of top 5 picks, and Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez have, doesn’t mean it’s always better to pick a quarterback.  Before those players were drafted, no one knew that’s how it would turn out.  Right now, who’s to say that Suh is not going to be a great lineman and Bradford’s not going to be an injury prone bust?  Even though I think they both will become good NFL players, my confidence is much higher with Suh.  If Bradford can’t narrow that gap after closer scrutiny, I’m picking Suh.

One aside:  I can’t believe how badly Marc Bulger is getting trashed.  You take away Issac Bruce and Tory Holt from any quarterback and put him behind that offensive line and he’ll look terrible.  I assure you, if they put Bradford in that situation, after his first year he’ll look like a bust – that’s if he’s still upright.

Pick: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

2)  Detroit Lions

I don’t think there should be any debate.  Suh looks special.  The Lions are fortunate the Rams have to go with a quarterback.  Offensive line needs can be addressed at the top of 2^nd round.  The Lions can’t pass up the opportunity to get a possible difference maker on defense.

Pick: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska

3)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers need just about everything.  McCoy is as highly touted as Suh.  I’m not as familiar with his game, but if he’s that good, and he fits the Tampa defense, this is an easy pick.

Pick:  Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

4)  Washington Redskins

Below is my original entry before the McNabb trade.  With McNabb on the team, the Redskins should take Okung.

“Picking Bradford here contradicts a bit of what I said for pick #1.  But there’s a big difference.  Suh is no longer on the board.  I believe Jason Campbell is the biggest inhibitor to this team ascending in the standings.  Given that, Sam Bradford makes sense in this spot.  If the Rams select Bradford, I am not picking Clausen.  A lot of people are high on Clausen.  I don’t see what they are seeing.  My gut tells me he has the potential to be average, but nothing special.  That’s not enough reason to take him with the 4^th pick.  I believe Bradford on the other hand has the presence and leadership abilities to be a top quarterback.  All that said, if I’m the Redskins GM I make it really simple.  I ask Shanahan if he believes in Bradford.  If so, I take him.  If not, I’d go with Okung.  If Shanahan likes Clausen, we have a really, really long discussion.”

Pick:  Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.

5)  Kansas City Chiefs

I think what would really help the Chiefs’ offensive line would be to get Matt Cassell to stop holding the ball for so damn long.  Drafting another offensive lineman won’t solve that.  Also, there is still a potential playmaker for the defense on the board so I think that ends all debate.

Pick:  Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

6)  Seattle Seahawks

I know the Seahawks could use an upgrade at running back, but I believe at least one of the top running backs will still be there when they pick again in the 1^st round.  Conveniently for Seattle, they have their choice of the top lineman left on the board.

Pick:  Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma.

7)  Cleveland Browns

The Browns started to play pretty well on defense late last season but the defense lacks a leader.  Some people might think this is a little high for Rolando McClain, but if he turns into the Browns version of Brian Urlacher, he is a great value at number 7.  He is my favorite player in this year’s draft.

Pick: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

8)  Oakland Raiders

This is a depressing spot.  No matter which direction the team goes with this pick, the team’s outlook is bleak as long as Jemarcus Russell is the starting signal caller.  Last year, I still held out hope that the light would come on and he would take advantage of his tremendous physical gifts.  But at this point in time I don’t see the likelihood of that ever happening.  I’m not sure of the salary cap ramifications, but I would cut ties with him this off season.  Perhaps, the uncapped year would allow me to get away with it.  Even if I cut Russell, I still would not draft a quarterback at this spot.  Russell is bound to obscure any improvement I make to the rest of the roster.  That’s why this is so depressing.  As much heat as the Raider’s offensive line takes, I think when Robert Gallery is healthy, they are a pretty decent run blocking group.  Still, improving your pass protection is never a bad thing and I would consider Bulaga.  I’d also like to add a presence to the defensive line.  Because I have an early 2^nd round pick and this draft is deep in defensive tackles, I’ll take a chance on a big pass rusher.

Pick: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida

9)  Buffalo Bills

Here’s another depressing spot.  I’m predicting right now the Bills will be in the running for the top pick in next year’s draft.  But that might not be such a bad thing.  They would have their choice of Ryan Mallett or Jack Locker.  I can start building the line to block for the young QB right now.  Since I don’t have much experience evaluating blockers, I will take the consensus next best in the group.

Pick: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

10)  Jacksonville Jaguars

What to do with this team always confuses me.  Part of the problem is that sometimes Garrard plays really well and they beat a good team.   Then he plays poorly and they lose to a bad team.  It’s hard to get a firm bearing on just what area they are most in need.  It’s time to go with the highest rated player left on the board but at this point, it’s not clear cut who that is.  The Jags have to play the pass happy Colts and Texans twice a year so adding a good corner is probably not a bad idea.

Pick:  Joe Haden, CB, Florida

11)  Denver Broncos

I don’t like the Broncos situation.  The new coach rubbed the star quarterback the wrong way and they had to trade him.  Now they have mediocre quarterbacks on the roster.  This means the rest of the team has to play great.  Brandon Marshall is the team’s most talented player, but he’s unhappy.  I don’t know what they are going to do with their offense so I will address the defense and look for a good fit for their 3-4 system.

Pick:  Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas

12)  Miami Dolphins

The dilemma here is whether or not to gamble on a wide receiver to fill a position of vital need or make a safer pick.  Once you start getting to this area of the draft, there really are no sure things.  Also, the rest of the Dolphins receiving corps would be just fine if a number 1 receiver was added to the mix.  Chad Henne could use a big target.  Thought it’s a bit of a reach this early, I’m going to gamble that D. Thomas is a future 80 catch, 10 touchdown type of performer.  Dez Bryant is more highly touted but his pro day made me an uneasy.  I got the impression he is not a natural route runner.  With the little information I have to go on, I just feel Thomas is more instinctive.  Since I could probably pick up Thomas with a later pick I’d be open to trading down.

Pick:  Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech

13)  San Francisco 49ers

It makes no sense to draft Spiller without decent blocking in place.  I have two picks so I can be a little adventurous with this first pick and still get my O line help with the next pick.

Pick:  Earl Thomas, S, Texas

14) Seattle Seahawks

I had a feeling the top running backs would still be available at this pick. (Gee, I wonder how I figured that out, since I’m the one making all the picks!) 

Pick: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

15)  NY Giants

Right now the Giants are ticked off that I was in the Cleveland war room and took McClain off the board.   If McClain was still on the board, this would be an easy pick with need and value coming together in harmonic convergence.  It might be a bit too high to take Weatherspoon.  With his gift for gab, he would be a hit with the New York fans and media.  The Giants’ staff would have to be in love with him to take him here.  If I couldn’t trade out of this position it would be between Spoon and Dan Williams.

Pick:  Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee

16)  Tennessee Titans

I think Derrick Morgan is a potential pass rushing replacement for Kyle Vandenbosch.

Pick:  Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

17)  San Francisco 49ers

Now I need to get some help for the O line and conveniently, my favorite of the remaining tackles is still on the board.

Pick:  Charles Brown, OT, USC

18)  Pittsburgh Steelers

With Holmes gone I suspect many would take Dez Bryant.  But I think Wallace is a budding #1 WR and he’s got solid guys around him.  Further, I just can’t get behind Dez Bryant.  Big Ben needs a lot of pass protection and the running game hasn’t been what it used to be.  I try and get stronger on the O Line.

Pick: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho

19)  Atlanta Falcons

Based on the assumption John Abraham is past his prime, I’m going try and reload behind him with the best pass rusher left on the board.

Pick: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan

20)  Houston Texans

I was holding out hope that Earl Thomas might still be on the board but that’s not the case.  Though I worry Kyle Wilson’s height is going to be a bigger liability at the pro level than in college, the consensus is that he’s the best secondary player left on the board so I take him.

Pick: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise St.

21)  Cincinnati Bengals

Jermaine Gresham would be the recommendation from many in this spot.  I don’t like taking a TE in the first round unless I know I’m getting Tony Gonzales or Vernon Davis like quality.  I’m assuming the Bengals will not sign T.O. and I will go for speed to work the middle of the field instead of size.

Pick:  Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame

22)  New England Patriots

Dez Bryant’s workout scared me, but he’s got some traits of a number one receiver - something the Patriots will need before long as Moss ages or moves on to another team.  The extra 2^nd and 3^rd round picks allow me to gamble and take Bryant.

Pick:  Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St.

23)  Green Bay Packers

Anthony Davis is one of the highest rated players left on the board and offensive line help is a need for the Packers.

Pick:  Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers

 24) Philadelphia Eagles

I suddenly don’t know what direction this team is heading.  My feeling on the McNabb trade is that if Kolb turns out to be better than McNabb, than it’s a good trade.  If not, it’s a bad trade.  I don’t know what indication the Eagles have that he can be better, but I’m not on the practice field.  The Eagles have lost a lot of depth on the O line recently, but I can’t stray too far from the board and I pick up a good value.

Pick:  Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri

25) Baltimore Ravens

In a game against the Bengals last year, the corners of the Bengals outplayed the corners of the Ravens and I believe that was the difference in the game.   I feel safe picking a guy who’s twin brother has already had a decent season in the league.

Pick:  Devin McCourtey, CB, Rutgers

26)  Arizona Cardinals

I almost went away from Jerry Hughes but then I remembered my mantra that rarely do rookies have as big an impact in the regular season as people imagine on draft day.  Hughes can line up behind Porter and be ready when Porter departs.

Pick:  Jerry Hughes, LB, TCU 

27)  Dallas Cowboys

I’m going to take a chance that B. Campbell can fill the Flozell Adams void. 

Pick: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

28)  San Diego Chargers

Most mock drafts I see have R. Matthews going to San Diego.  I think he’s a great value at this pick.  If Houston doesn’t pick him and he falls this far, that’s the perfect set of circumstances for the Chargers.

Pick:  Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno St.

29)  New York Jets

Suddenly the Jets have a pretty loaded roster.  They have the luxury to add another athlete to their defense.

Pick:  Everson Griffen, DE, USC

30)  Minnesota Vikings

People are going to think I’m nuts, but I’m a Viking fan and I dread the coming abyss when Favre hangs it up.  Tavaris Jackson will never be more than a back up in my opinion.  With the exception of some glaring weaknesses in coverage, the Vikings have a loaded roster and can gamble a little with this pick.  I would draft Tebow and let him sit behind Favre.  This could settle the Viking’s future QB dilemma.  Some commentators say Tebow will take three years to develop but that doesn’t make sense to me.  His development shouldn’t take any longer than any other QB coming out of college.  Just because he’s making changes to his mechanics doesn’t mean his process will take longer.  He’s already speeding up his delivery and I’ve thought all along that when he does finally release the ball, it goes where he wants.  I’m not worried about that.  I only worry about whether or not he can make the mental adjustment.  But I worry about that with nearly every college quarterback.  At least with the Vikings there’d be no pressure to have him play in his first year.  I’d roll the dice on him because I think he’s a born winner and has the chance to be something special.  Those who want to move Tebow to H-Back are crazy.  They are basically saying he cannot ever develop as a passer.  I don’t see how you can make that call at this point.  Besides, I don’t even think he’d be much of an H-Back.  His physical gifts will make him sturdy in the pocket, but he’s not elusive in the open field and he cannot run over pro defenders.  I’m giving him the chance to be my QB of the future. 

Pick:  Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

31)  Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are a team that sticks to their board and I like their style.  Some say the offensive line was a weakness last season but I don’t recall Peyton spending a lot of time on his back.   The Colts previously had been consistently weak on run defense, but that has improved.  I am going to make an educated guess on who is highest rated player on their board.

Pick:  Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

32)  New Orleans Saints,

Big plays in the red zone saved the Saints bacon last year.  I think their D needs a serious upgrade in athleticism.

Pick: Daryl Washington, LB, TCU

33)  St. Louis Rams

Could very well get an enticing deal for this spot, but if not, get some blocking for Bradford.

Pick: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida

34) Detroit Lions

Though we are pretty far down on the O Line draft board already, I think there is one more out there that can be of help.

Pick:  Roger Saffold, OT, Indiana

35)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If he fell this far, I don’t see how Tampa’s coach could resist trying to turn Mays into the next John Lynch.

Pick:  Taylor Mays, SS, USC

36)  Kansas City Chiefs

A first round talent that would fit Crennel’s defensive scheme is still on the board.

Pick:  Jared Odrick, DE, Penn St.

37)  Philadelphia Eagles

Javier Arenas was the highly touted player but Kareem Jackson was the one making plays every time I tuned to one of the Tide’s games.

Pick: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama

38)  Cleveland Browns

Lots of choices at defensive tackle available, but they’ve got S. Rogers and play 3-4.  So maybe go for corner help.

Pick:  Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida St.

39)  Oakland Raiders

Here’s the reason I selected the potential freak pass rusher with my first pick.  I knew this draft was loaded with defensive tackles.

Pick:  Brian Price, DT, UCLA

40)  San Diego Chargers

Some people see this happening at the 28^th pick.

Pick:  Terrence Cody, NT, Alabama

41)  Buffalo Bills

Just need to keep adding athletes who might pay dividends a few seasons down the road.

Pick:  Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina

42)  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The last thing the Bucs need is another stiff at wide receiver.  I cross my fingers that I haven’t just given them one.

Pick:  Brandon LaFell, WR, LSU

43)  Miami Dolphins

Whether or not they keep Jason Taylor this season, eventually they’ll need a replacement.

Pick: Koa Misi, LB, Utah

44)  New England Patriots

I’m amongst the group who prefers tall cornerbacks.

Pick:  Chris Cook, CB, Virginia

45)  Denver Broncos

It doesn’t really matter who I pick here.  McDaniel’s immaturity will have a way of screwing it up.  But they are getting old at corner.

Pick:  Jerome Murphy, CB, South Florida

46)  New York Giants

Since McClain was gone when we picked in the first round, we’ll go for a linebacker now.

Pick:  Navarro Bowman, LB, Penn St.

47)  New England Patriots

Kevin Faulk is not going to be around forever.

Pick: Jahvid Best, RB, Cal

48) Carolina Panthers

This team is in free fall.  I believe they will have one of the top picks in the draft following next season.  It’s time to get a head start on the rebuilding.

Pick: Tyson Alualu, DT, Cal

49)  San Francisco 49ers

Going for more help on the offensive line.

Pick: Jon Asamoah, OG, Illinois

50)  Kansas City Chiefs

It may be a little late to get immediate help for the offensive line, but we’ll take a chance on a project.

Pick:  Vladimir Ducasse, OT, Massachusettes

51)  Houston Texans

This draft is giving us opportunity to load up on secondary help.

Pick: Nate Allen, S, South Florida

52)  Pittsburgh Steelers

Fortunately, I hadn’t gone this far down in my draft before the Holmes trade. 

Pick:  Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota

53)  New England Patriots

I’m not sure how much stock the Patriots place on 40 times, but Spikes may be a good value at this pick.  Bellichek is good at finding roles for players.  Maybe he can find a role for him.

Pick:  Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida

54) Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals don’t have any specific needs so take the good ‘ol “BAA”.

Pick: Lamar Houston, DT, Texas

55)  Philadelphia Eagles

This is a good spot to take a chance on the behemoth defensive end.

Pick: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

56)  Green Bay Packers

It’s tough to decide at this point if there are any offensive linemen, or any cornerbacks still on the board worthy of a 2^nd round pick.  I will go for a player I actually rate higher than most.

Pick: Chad Jones, S, LSU

57)  Baltimore Ravens

I go for my favorite tight end left on the board.

Pick: Dennis Pitta, TE, Brigham Young

58)  Arizona Cardinals

Antrel Rolle being gone makes the safeties left on the board more attractive.

Pick:  Morgan Burnett, FS, Georgia

59)  Dallas Cowboys

A poor man’s Golden Tate seems like a good idea.

Pick:  Damian Williams, WR, USC

60)  Seattle Seahawks

I haven’t seen anything from him that I particularly like, but he’s fallen pretty far down the board.  I hope he’s not a stiff.

Pick:  Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois

61)  New York Jets

The Jets have really loaded up on offense through free agency and trades.  I’ll go for more depth on defense.

Pick:  Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia

62)  Minnesota Vikings

My gamble on Tebow is a pretty big gamble considering how many DBs have come off the board so far in the second round.

Pick: Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB, Indiana (PA)

63) Indianapolis Colts

Colts could go in any direction.  Addai is injury prone and I think Manning would have fun with Gerhart’s versatility.

Pick: Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

64) New Orleans Saints

Picking up Alex Brown shows they are in need of pass rushing ends.

Pick: Alex Carrington, DE, Arkansas State

MARSHALL TRADE UPDATE

Geez, just after posting my mock draft, my boss walks by and tells me Marshall was traded to Miami.  I had to laugh because I had the Dolphins drafting D. Thomas which I need to change, creating a domino effect on the rest of my mock draft.  Let me see if I can make some quick changes.

12) Miami; Pick:  Earl Thomas, S, Texas

13) San Francisco; Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan

19) Atlanta; Demaryious Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech

I write this letter to you as a word of warning.  History is littered with public figures who have gone from prince to pariah.  It appears to me you are headed in that direction, but not for the reason you suspect.  Your performance in this year’s Masters Tournament is remarkable considering the events of the past 5 months.  It shows what immense talent you possess.  But I found your comments after Sunday’s round to be very revealing as to your state of mind.  This bit about “I don’t come out here to finish 4^th” is not only ridiculous, but completely out of place.  I can understand being upset about not playing as well as you would have liked, but to make that kind of comment shows your arrogance.  If you could take a step back and look at the big picture, you would be able to appreciate what a special feat you accomplished.  But you are so out of touch, you somehow believe that you are entitled to victories every time you tee it up.  You ignore the fact that your fellow competitors want to win just as badly as you do.  Only your talent at hitting the golf ball is what’s keeping you ahead of them in most tournaments and nothing more.  You need to remember that you are Tiger Woods because you play great golf, not that you play great golf because you are Tiger Woods.  Greek tragedies tell the tale of heroes with a fatal flaw.  You may think your philandering was your one flaw, but that merely opened people’s eyes to the fact that you are not perfect.  If you continue to lack the ability to relate to your fellow competitors and your common man, you will continue to rub people the wrong way.  Then, no one will care if you break all of Jack’s records.  Though that would be a shame, I will not lose any sleep over it.  You, however, should strive for better.  I hope for your sake, you recognize this before it’s too late.

I disagree with the NFL’s rule change for overtime, but I can shrug it off because seldom will it come into play and won’t have a huge impact on the NFL season as a whole. 

 

But I must comment because I feel there is a principal at stake and when defending a principal, I become adamant.  No one is more passionate about the NFL than I, so I get a little uneasy when changes are made to the game.  I get especially perturbed when changes are made haphazardly in response to a misinformed and delusional fan base.  I feel that’s the case with the OT rule change.

 

The first delusion is that prior to the rule change, overtime was totally unfair.  Prior to 1993, the winner of the coin flip had no statistical advantage in OT.  Since then, the coin flip winner has had about a 60/40 advantage.  I believe the people clamoring for the new rule mistakenly believe the advantage is much greater.  Furthermore, they forget that a significant portion of the 60% who went on to win, did not win on the first possession.  I hear time and time again, proponents of the change complaining about teams getting a long kick return, getting a penalty and kicking a long field goal.  They act as though this happens much of the time.  Unfortunately, people are burdened with selective memory.  At most the coin flip is giving one side only a slight advantage.   It is not determining the outcome the way many believe.  I ask, is that a good enough reason to invent the convoluted format they’ve come up with?

 

The second delusion is the assumption the new formula that’s been concocted is assured to remove the advantage the coin flip winner possesses.  No one knows.  Will coin flip winners win more or less?  Will the losers of the coin flip suddenly gain an advantage?  I don’t believe this has been fully thought out.  It looks more to me like a knee jerk reaction to appease the people who feel the old system is unfair and not a scientifically derived solution to level the playing field.

 

Thirdly, there is the delusion the outcome based on the new format is going to give you a clearly deserving victor.  Do you really think that after 60 minutes of play between evenly matched teams, that lengthening the game by perhaps one more possession and then deciding a winner is somehow a better measure of the teams?  As if the better team ends up losing because the coin flip didn’t go their way.    When it gets to that point, it’s always going to be hard to say that one team is more deserving than the other, no matter how you format it.  There comes a time where you half to end it.  It’s not like you can play a best of seven series.

 

I heard Jeff Fisher say, “What we don’t want is for a game to end on a long kick return, a penalty and a field goal.”  Well besides the fact that it hardly happens, why not change the rule so the team winning the coin flip gets the ball on its own 20 yard line.  I wonder if that would appease the people who feel the team winning the coin flip is not earning their subsequent score.  However, the people who would be agreeable to this solution would also have to admit that all of their rhetoric about special teams being just as important as offense and defense is a bunch of lip service.

 

One of the arguments against the old overtime system is the chance the game will end with only one team getting a possession.  In this new system, that’s still a possibility, clearly nullifying that argument.

 

Jim Nantz has been outspoken in his displeasure with the sudden death format.  He even had the audacity to say the NFL’s sudden death format is akin to baseball going into extra innings and if the visitor scores in the top half of the 10^th the game is over.  That’s a classic case of comparing apples to oranges.  In baseball, you can only score when you are up to bat, and what you do in the field has no bearing on whether your team will go three up and three down in its next ups, or have a 5 run rally.  In football, not only can you score on defense, but how well you play defense directly affects when and where you start your next possession.  That’s just a dumb comparison.

 

The NFL Network’s Rich Eisen is one of my favorite on screen personalities but holy jumping, does he get anal about this issue.  Like so many people, he just can’t unclench from the notion that the coin flip is so unfair.  Life is unfair.  Let it go man.  I’m a lifelong Viking fan for Pete’s sake.  If anyone should be complaining at this moment about sudden death it should be me.  But I believe that even with the rule change the Saints would still have come out on top.  I believe that if the Vikings won the coin flip, the Saints still would have won.  They were destiny’s darlings.  As a Viking fan, it was incredibly disappointing to endure the gut wrenching loss.  But hey, it was just a football game.  The loss didn’t cost me money or change my quality of life in any way.  I wish people would likewise drop the notion that the outcome of a football game was somehow a life and death situation and just accept the roll of the dice – or I guess in this situation, the flip of the coin.

 

I heard many owners state the new system would add excitement to the game for their fan base.  I guess they feel a playoff game going to sudden death OT is not exciting enough.  I personally think that if you can’t get excited over a closely fought NFL playoff game, perhaps you are not watching the right sport. 

 

With people like Fisher, Nantz and Eisen all being proponents, it didn’t surprise me the change occurred.  Let’s just hope that it stops there.  I fear once they realize the new system is also imperfect, people will clamor for the college overtime system.  That would be a shame.  I don’t think most people recognize the difference between good football and bad football.  By the time you get to a second overtime in college the players are so beat, the level of play drops off dramatically.  How is having teams play at perhaps 75% of their potential a better way of determining a winner?  I think it’s just more foolishness. 

 

No one wants to come face to face with the cold hard facts that the whole thing is a crap shoot, no matter which system you employ.  I have an idea of my own that I think would be the most fair.  Instead of an overtime period I would just add extra time onto the 4^th quarter.  When the 4^th quarter clock hits 0:00 with the game tied, instead of stopping and having a coin flip and kickoff, you just keep playing until the tie is broken.  A team couldn’t score on the last play of regulation to tie the game and win the subsequent coin flip and get the ball right back.  They would have to kickoff.  But even this system has a problem.  With a game tied late in the 4^th quarter, the team in possession of the ball with seconds left on the clock would be in no hurry to score because they could just go into extra time.  It could drastically change the way the final minutes of games would be played out and I’m not sure that’s warranted or practical.

 

So it’s clear to me, there is no perfect solution.  When that’s the case you should just leave well enough alone.  That’s my argument and I’m sticking to it.

 

PEACE

I think a lot of people who create mock drafts make the assumption that there are at least 1 or 2 “franchise” quartebacks available in each draft class.  That’s a mistake.  Some have none.  Yet these guys who create these mock drafts end up trying to fit square pegs into round holes.  Listing Jimmy Clausen as a top 10 draft pick is a blatent example.

Anyone who knows anything about football knows that you cannot have a good football game without good quarterbacks.  And there ain’t enough good QBs to go around in the league right now.  That’s why I’m always anxious to see the new QB prospects, hoping for an infusion of talent into the NFL.  When I heard that Notre Dame was getting a highly touted QB out of Southern California I was anxious to give him a look see - to see if he had an NFL future.  The first time I saw him when he was an underclassman I was terribly dissappointed.  I thought, “well, he may have been a great high school QB and he may be o.k. in college, but he’s not the pro prospect I am hoping for.”

And that’s why early this football season when perusing the mock draft websites (just to give me some names to watch for during college games) I was flabergasted to see Jimmy Clausen listed as the top pick on more than one site.  This is idiocy and I must go on a rant.

Clausen is NOT a can’t miss franchise QB.  He’s not even close.  I re-evaluated him after seeing these shocking predictions and tried to get past the fact that he doesn’t even pass my “eye” test.  I don’t know what his exact height is, but he certainly doesn’t play to it.  He looks like a boy among men.  And I’m not talking about his baby face either.  I’m talking about his physical stature.  But I tried to get beyond the fact that he looks like he is physically overwhelmed and concentrated on his throws.  Unfortunately, it seemed every time I tuned in, Charlie Weiss had called for quick outs.  In a clean pocket, Claussen is able to get good velocity on the ball thrown to the sideline.  I was able to see his game winning drive against Washington but I’d like all the Claussen touters go back and look at that tape and ask yourself if any of the passes he completed would have been different if he were playing against air.  I mean really.  There was absolutely no pass rush and all of his receivers were at least 5 yards in the clear.  And speaking of receivers.  I wonder just how productive would Claussen have been had he not a true blue chip prospect in Golden Tate to throw the ball to.

I’m not trying to bash the guy unfairly.  Like with Brady Quinn who I hoped would turn into a productive NFL starter, I wish good things for Claussen.  The NFL can use more good arms.  But I’ve got to go with what my eyes are telling me.  He’s not a can’t miss prospect.  He’s only a prospect, no where close to being the stud I’m using my top 10 pick on.  He’s got some of the tools needed and if he’s got the instincts and work ethic the possibility for development is there.  But at this point it’s only a possibility.  It’s a big stretch to say that it’s a probability.  Heck, he hasn’t even been able to dominate at the college level, what makes anyone think he’d do more than just get by as a pro?

He’s a stretch but I don’t blame any team for wanting to give him a shot.  But you don’t use a top 10 pick on him.  Late 2nd or 3rd round is where he belongs. 

I wonder if the mock draft creators just look at the big name at the big school and just plug the name in without any analysis.  That’s what seems to be happening in my opinion.  I wonder if Claussen played for a MAC school if he’d be getting as much attention or would he be down on draft boards like Dan LeFevor of Central Michigan.  I think LeFevor is at least as good a prospect as Claussen.  But he’s being valued where he should be in the 2nd or 3rd round.  Why Claussen is being lionized I just don’t see.

 The one thing that comforts me is to know that the mock drafts, especially the early ones, seldomly look like how the draft actually comes out.  At least I know most NFL organizations are not being so foolish.  I will find it very interesting to see if any team with a high first round draft choice rolls the dice and takes Claussen.  If so, I will be shaking my head.

“Playoffs?”  I can just hear the NCAA hierarchy doing their best Jim Mora imitation.

 I’m sitting here watching Montana play Villanova in the FCS championship game thinking how ridiculous it is that this would be the most interesting college football game being played this weekend.

But if they had followed my plan, instead of nothing interesting happening this weekend with the FBS football teams, two massively over-hyped games would be taking place.  The eight teams that would have made the playoffs would have played their first playoff game last weekend - another dead weekend for FBS teams.  Those eight teams would be the six big conference winners and two at large bids.  I don’t believe you’d get much argument over TCU and Boise St. filling those spots.  Seeding may have worked out like this:

#1 Alabama

#2 Texas

#3 TCU

#4 Cincinnati

#5 Boise St.

#6 Oregon

#7 Ohio St.

#8 Georgia Tech

So just for illustrative purposes we can imagine the higher seeds winning their games last weekend.  Alabama would have taken care of Georgia Tech.  After having beaten one good defense in Nebraska, Texas overcomes another one against Ohio St.  In a score fest, TCU outlasted Oregon.  And in the intriguing match up between Boise St. and Cincinnati, Cincinnati pulled out a squeaker. 

Those results leading to this weekends match ups of Alabama v. Cincinnati and Texas v. TCU with the losers receiving their bowl bids.  In this scenario, Oregon could end playing Ohio St. in the Rose Bowl anyway. 

And it would be entirely possible that Alabama and Texas would win their games this weekend setting up the exact same championship game that we already have in place.  But the teams would have earned the right to play in the championship on the football field instead of being granted the priviledge by voters and computers making it much more rewarding and meaningful.  The other bowl match ups determined by these hypothetical playoff results would become Boise St. v. Georgia Tech and Cincinnati v. TCU.  Match ups just as appealing as what’s been selected under the current system, perhaps even more so.

Some may be asking where Florida figures into my system and have a problem with them being left out.  I’m not saying Florida is the 9th best team in the country.  I think it’s pretty apparent that they are in at least the top 5.  But this a process to try and determine a National champion and it’s a process of elimination.  In my mind, once they lost to Alabama for the SEC championship, their candidacy for the National championship ended.  Why would a team that could not even win it’s own conference be allowed to compete for the National championship?  And Florida would still have the priviledge of playing in a bowl game.  Instead of playing Cincinnati in a BCS bowl, they’d be matched up against a team like Iowa or Penn St. in another bowl.  There’s no shame in that.  In fact, sounds kind of interesting to me.

Oh wait, I think I’m hearing Mr. Mora again, “Playoffs?  You kiddin’ me?”  Dang.

 

 

I was watching Jim Mora Jr. calling out his kicker in his press conference yesterday in a little bit of disbelief.  It was mind boggling to hear a coach with that much experience whining about how his kicker could not make every single kick.  Mare had a bad game, there’s no question about it, but correct me if I’m wrong, I don’t know any kicker who’s running at a 100% success rate.  A good kicker will make 85-90% of his kicks.  Every team in the league at one time or another gets burnt by a missed field goal.  Winning teams overcome the misses, losing teams do not.

If Mare is a bad kicker then Mora only has himself to blame for putting him on the team.  After a good run Mare was let go by Miami and could not catch on with New Orleans.  The Seahawks drafted Brandon Coutou out of Georgia a couple of seasons ago but he lost the competition with Mare in the preseason.  Had Coutou been on the field on Sunday would the result have been different no one will ever know.  The point is, if Mora wants to point fingers maybe he should look at himself.

I thought teams “win as a team and lose as a team.”  I guess that does not apply to kickers according to Mora.  I bet in retrospect, after the emotions of the game have dissipated, Mora himself would recognize that his comments were not only unjust but served no purpose and he would rather not have made them. 

But this isn’t the first time he’s got into trouble with public comments.  Personally, if I ran a football team, I’d prefer a coach who has a little more control over his emotions.

New England Patriots – Before Albert Haynesworth landed on Tom Brady I was ready to make the Patriots my Super Bowl pick along with nearly every other prognosticator.  I don’t think their defense is the equal of Baltimore’s or Pittsburgh’s but it’s pretty dang good and that’s all it needs to be considering how Brady and Moss light up the scoreboard.

 

Miami Dolphins – The injury to Tom Brady had a lot to do with their meteoric rise last season.  They also had a very favorable turnover ratio helping them along the way.  The reality is that the overall roster has average talent.  The pairing of Taylor and Porter as pass rushers may help the defense, but does anyone expect Pennington to have as good a season as he did in 2008 given the level of talent at the receiver position?  With Brady back in New England, Merriman back in San Diego, the balance of power in the AFC has been restored meaning the Dolphins will need to catch some more lucky breaks in order to make the playoffs.

 

New York Jets – This is a team with a lot of potential on both sides of the ball.  Matt Ryan aside, rookie QBs usually are not able to get the job done.  Even if Mark Sanchez plays really well, I believe this team is still a step behind the AFC powerhouses.  I also want to add how disappointing it is to watch Vernon Gholston.  I wonder what causes a player’s talent for rushing the passer in college to completely disappear at the pro level.  I’ve focused on his play throughout the pre-season and it’s clear to me his legs are going dead at precisely the moment when he needs to burst.  It certainly gives me something to think about for when I look at future draft prospects.

 

Buffalo Bills – Trent Edwards is overrated and he’s working behind a very inexperienced offensive line.  I don’t know if T.O. can save him.  The defense is mediocre.  Unless Edwards elevates his play this team should plummet.

 

Baltimore Ravens – Last year Joe Flacco was still working out the kinks and the defense carried the load.  Even though they’ve suffered some losses on D, they still have a superstar at each level: Ngata on the D line, Lewis at LB and Reed in the secondary.  I’m sure their D will be as nasty as ever.  And now it looks as though Flacco has taken the next step in his development.  That’s got to be a scary prospect for the rest of the AFC.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers – This looks like the same team as last year.  Last year it was good enough but will that be the case this year?

 

Cincinnati Bengals – If Carson Palmer can return to form things will not be so dismal for the Bengals but even with the improvements in their defense they are still clearly behind the AFC powerhouses.

 

Cleveland Browns – Quinn and Anderson are both decent but make the mistakes that inexperienced QBs make.  If I were the Browns I would pick the one who is most likely to eliminate the bad habits and then trade the other.  If it were up to me I’d keep Quinn and trade Anderson.  I think I might be able to work a deal with SF and it doesn’t really matter what I get in return.  The point would be to take this team out of QB limbo.  Quinn and Anderson are so closely matched, it’s hard to pick one, but pick one!  Let your team rally around the direction it knows it’s heading.  The Browns drafted 2 receivers in Robiskie and Massaquoi that I really like.  They drafted RB James Davis who I really liked a few seasons ago but whose stock slowly dropped during his last season at Clemson.  It’s nice to see him tearing it up in the pre-season games confirming the talent was within in him all along.  The Browns also drafted Coye Francies a fellow Spartan Alum.  They have a lot I want to root for.  But the AFC looks particularly strong this season so I don’t see them making many gains.

 

Tennessee Titans – The O line must be really good because they are turning Kerry Collins into an effective QB.  And now the talent at the skill positions around him is improving.  It’s possible the defense will take a step back with Haynesworth having gone bye-bye, but I don’t see this team being out of any game that it plays.

 

Houston Texans – The Texans were going to be my sexy pick but they’ve seemingly become everyone’s sexy pick.  Most people pin their expectations on the health of Matt Schaub but I think that needs to be taken one step further.  His health to me is less important than his level of play.  If he improves to his promised potential the Texans offense should be strong.  If he founders it will be mediocre.  If Schaub gets injured, both Orlavsky and Grossman are decent enough to keep the team from nose diving.  Besides being tied to Schaub’s development, the Texans’ improvement will also be tied to the defense’s improvement.  With Mario Williams and Demeco Ryans they have a couple of legitimate stars, but the rest of the cast is young and unproven.  If it gels the Texans should eek into the playoffs.  If not, they’ll have to wait another year.

 

Indianapolis Colts – It will be interesting to see how this team fairs without Tony Dungy guiding the ship.  As long as Peyton Manning is playing QB they will not drop off significantly but I think the defense will keep them from competing for a championship.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars – They seem to have solved their problems at WR but they do not have much behind Maurice Jones-Drew.  There isn’t really any reason to believe they will be much different than they were last year – a non-factor.

San Diego Chargers – Still a very talented team that has yet to reach its potential.  Will that ever be possible under Norv Turner, I’m not sure.  At least they will have Merriman running freely once again.  That along with the weakness within their division puts the Chargers in a position where they will most certainly make the playoffs.

 

Oakland Raiders – Jemarcus Russell looks like he’s finally getting comfortable with the pro game and his talents should finally be on display.  Oakland can also run the ball.  Now instead of being hamstrung by a rotten offense, it looks like the defense has become a problem, in particular the D-line.  They should no longer be a painful team to watch play, but I don’t see how they are going to be able to come up with many more wins in this conference.

 

Kansas City Chiefs – As long as Matt Cassell stays healthy this team will be much more competitive but just how much they will improve is just too hard to figure out at this point.  My guess is they will win something like 5-6 games.

 

Denver Broncos – The Broncos have been heading downward for some time now and the drop off in talent at the QB position will only make it worse.  I like their 1^st round draft picks but I’m surprised to see Robert Ayers standing up.  I pictured him more as a down defensive end.  Anyway, even if the defense improves from where it was last year, it’s not likely they will be able to score as many points.  Not only that, it appears the Raiders and Chiefs are not quite as pathetic as in recent years so it could be a long season for the Mile High faithful.

 

In summing up the AFC picture I see 4 distinct groups of teams:

The sure things: New England, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, San Diego

Best of the rest: Tennessee, Miami, Houston, Indianapolis

Still lacking what it takes to compete with the big boys: New York Jets, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville

In need of a miracle: Buffalo, Oakland, Kansas City, Denver

 

New York Giants – I feel pretty confident in my evaluation of wide receivers.  A couple of seasons ago, people were down on the Packers receivers but I had faith in Jennings, Driver and Jones and they exploded for a big year.  Now just because everyone is down on the Giants receivers I’m not necessarily buying it.  But in this case, everyone is RIGHT!  The Giants receivers aren’t very good.  Smith is a 2 or a 3 on most teams.  Moss and Manningham have a bit of talent but neither will be a #1.  Nicks looks inconsistent and will be prone to rookie mistakes.  Hixson looks a little uncoordinated to me.  Tyree is a stiff!  Tyree made one lucky catch in the biggest game of the season but he doesn’t make the roster on most teams in the league.  But the Giants can rush the ball and rush the passer meaning they will remain one of the top teams in the conference.  Whether the lack of talent at WR will keep them from winning the conference is the $64,000 question.

 

Philadelphia Eagles – Eagles teams always seem to do well along the line of scrimmage.  The Eagles’ biggest problem in the McNabb era, with the exception of the T.O. years, is that he hasn’t had a go to receiver.  I don’t know if Maclin will ever be that guy but I certainly don’t expect it this season.  The nice thing is that he, along with some of the other young WRs on the squad, has given that position an overall upgrade.  That might be enough to keep McNabb from having another perplexing slump during this season.   It seems like the Eagles have more injury problems than most teams and that’s a concern.  There is also a question as to whether or not the new defensive coordinator can get the team playing to the level it did under Jim Johnson.  I don’t see the Vick signing as being a factor one way or the other.  They are a team that you’d like to pick to win the conference, but not without reservations.

 

Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys should have a good running game and when Tony Romo is scrambling and making plays the Cowboy offense is hard to stop.  In spite of this, the team still managed to miss the playoffs last year.  That doesn’t say much for their defense.  I don’t see how the off season comings and goings give much hope for improvement.  Therefore, I’m not surprised one bit if the Cowboys miss the playoffs again.

 

Washington Redskins – Last year I bashed the Redskins because Jason Campbell did not impress me.  Then he went out and had a great start to the season.  I was wondering what kind of wizardry Jim Zorn possessed.  Then in the 2^nd half of the season, Campbell seemed to regress to his previous performance level.  It makes it hard to figure out which Jason Campbell is going to show up.  If he doesn’t play at a high level consistently the Redskins won’t win.  Haynesworth probably gives them a stronger defense but it was never that bad to begin with.  The real key is Campbell.

 

Minnesota Vikings – I’m not sold on the “greatness” of the Viking defense.  It’s good but it’s not in the same league as the Ravens or Steelers.  If Ray Edwards starts bringing consistent pressure from the left end position, then the Vikings pass defense may start to keep up with its excellent run defense.  Offensively, no Tavaris Jackson means things should go more smoothly.  In the past, the Vikings have not done well when expectations were high and expectations won’t get any higher than they are this year so it will be interesting to see what happens.

 

Green Bay Packers – The offense has looked lethal in the pre-season.  It looks like points will not be hard to come by.  Dom Capers or not, the defense will probably be better off than it was last year.  Wait and see if Rodgers has better success in close games this season.  If so, the Pack bounces back.

 

Chicago Bears – The Bears will be able to score points finally and their defense should still be pretty good.  Their biggest problem is that the Vikings and Packers are also on the upswing this season.

 

Detroit Lions – Going into last season I figured Jon Kitna would benefit from having Calvin Johnson and it would keep the Lions in games.  I did not foresee how abysmal the defense would play.  Once Kitna was injured, it was obvious the Lions didn’t have a prayer.  The quicker Stafford can catch on the better for the Lions because Daunte Culpepper is not the answer.  I think they have had a number of decent off season acquisitions and should be improved but it’s still hard seeing more than a few wins from this bunch.

 

Atlanta Falcons – It’s going to be hard to get this offense off the field with the addition of Tony Gonzalez to what was already a very competent and efficient unit.  The Falcons should be able to control the ball and score enough points to make up for the youth on the defensive side of the ball.

 

New Orleans Saints – For awhile, I had a hunch this team would be the next representative in the Super Bowl from the NFC.  But I’m still not sold on the improvements in the defense or the running attack without Deuce McAllister.   I’m not sold on the reliability of Pierre Thomas nor who they have backing him up.  That puts a lot of pressure on Drew Brees.   Even if the Saints remain incredibly potent on offense, the defense will still be a concern.  The strength of the Falcons will also be a concern.

 

Carolina Panthers – I see this team as having the biggest drop-off from last season.  They have a great running attack and Steve Smith but Jake Delhomme is one of the more confounding QBs I’ve ever seen.  He’ll look like a champ in one game and a chump in the next.  Besides his inconsistency, the defensive line is not as ferocious as it was a few seasons ago.  I don’t think they are a bad team necessarily but I think they’ve been passed up by a number of NFC squads.

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – I predict their record will be poor enough that Josh Freeman will become the starting QB before the end of the season.

 

Arizona Cardinals – The hex on Super Bowl losers usually comes about as a result of an injury.  An injury to Kurt Warner should not de-rail the Cards because I think Leinert can play well enough to keep them on top of this weak division.  I believe it would take a whole slew of injuries for the Cards to fall victim to the hex.  For argument’s sake, I’m going to assume the Cardinals do not get hexed and predict they outscore their opponents more than half the time.

 

Seattle Seahawks – I think there was more to the Seahawks’ dismal record last year than just the injuries to the wide receivers and Matt Hasselback.  If I’m wrong about that, they could give the Cards a run for the division.  If I’m right, they don’t win more than 7 games.

 

San Francisco 49ers – A team without a QB is no team at all in my opinion.

 

St. Louis Rams – With Holt gone now too there are no more ties to the greatest show on turf.  I think the defense was one of the worst in the league last year and they went O line with their top pick.  Bolger has new receivers he needs to get used to.  Unless I’m missing something, the Rams will have a one of the top draft picks for the third year in a row.

 

I’m having a really hard time making a prediction for the NFC.  Whereas, in the AFC, I’ve got it narrowed down to 2 teams, in the NFC I can make a case for 5 or 6 teams.

The favorites: NY Giants, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Atlanta, New Orleans, Arizona

Long shots with a chance: Dallas, Green Bay, Chicago.

The next layer: Washington, Carolina, Seattle

The pathetic: Detroit, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, St. Louis.

 

Super Bowl Prediction - I finally correctly predicted the Super Bowl winner at the beginning of last season for the first time since the 49ers won their last.  What a long drought!  So the odds of me being correct two years in a row must be about nil.  After watching how comfortable Flacco looks, the Ravens have become my pick for the AFC edging out the Patriots.  I don’t know how to pin myself down on the NFC.  It comes down to which of the 6 favorites are best suited for playoff football.  The Giants are built for the playoffs but I hesitate to pick them because if they fall behind, their passing attack may not be up to snuff.  Ignoring the injuries for a moment, the Eagles appear to be stronger than they were last year where they were just 1 game away.  I see the Falcons as the most balanced team but their youth makes me nervous.  Drew Brees gives the Saints a lot of heart.  As long as Favre plays well, the Vikings appear to have everything in place.  Arizona was good enough last year and now add Beanie Wells to their point scoring machine. I’ll just go with Baltimore over Philadelphia in Super Bowl 44.

A while ago, a friend at work invited me to attend an Aptera show-and-tell in Palo Alto. The Aptera is a wonderful change in car design. For something that’s different, I’m glad the designers opted to make a different look. Once you get over the “airplane” look and feel, I could see it being a fun car.

But like the Tesla, it suffers from the limits of battery. It requires charging time - which I don’t need right now with petrol. The Prius and the Insight are sheer garbage because they lack the most important aspect of the car - style! No, cool factor! No, sweetness! No, it lacks the “wow, is that your car?!??!” gawk from everyone that gazes at it.

All other hybrids are trying to be regular cars - and I don’t blame the manufacturers for taking this route. It’s easy because most of the pieces are already there. It’s easy because the visual impression is already proven. It’s easy because, well, there’s no thinking involved - let’s take one of our cars and make it a hybrid.

But let’s take a look at my choice IF hydrogen will take another decade to come around AND I would invest in a… eh-hem… hybrid.

Ladies and gentlemen… I bring you The Karma… Fisker’s Karma - the $85,000 hybrid. You can visit the company’s site here (http://karma.fiskerautomotive.com). It’s quite possibly one of the most stunning car designs I’ve seen and it does not disappoint from any angle. It has a 50 mile range on pure battery with a small engine to continue your course. Decent 0-60 number at sub 6 seconds with a maximum speed of 125mph. It’s not a supercar by any means - but I would put my money that this car would get you a date (unlike an Insight or the precious Prius).

Is it practical? Oh hell no. You want to be practical, take the bus. As for me, I want - no… I need me some good Karma.

Sometime around the Paleolithic or Mesolithic (I love wikipedia) periods, some guys who were tired of getting their tails kicked by better warriors with swords came up with the idea of bows and arrows. It was such a game changer, it swept the known world over - it was basically what the cool kids carried around… Apollo. Robin Hood. William Tell. Cupid.

And then the gun was invented. So much for the bow and arrow. Today, archery is a hobby - a talent that may not have much warfare value but it does have its following. There’s even clubs and newsletters.

Where does the car story come in?
In October 2008, I came across a beautiful 1989 Jaguar XJS. With only 54k original miles, she’s a delight to drive even for a 20 year old car. The V12 does not disappoint - smooth and silky.

Recently, there was an opportunity to get my hands on a 1972 Series III Jaguar XKE 2+2 Coupe. Considered to be one of the most beautiful cars in history, it was hard to resist entertaining the idea of having an older V12 dressed in a sexy body. For a few dollars more (ok, thousands more), I could replace the XJS with the XKE.

Maybe I should first explain what the car will be used for before we go on with this story. I’m not the kind of car-nut who buys cars only to gaze at them in his garage. I’ve always believed that you have and should drive the car. If you don’t drive it, why not just get a poster and save the money? Given this mantra, I enjoy driving the XJS as often as I could (about twice a week when I have no need for passenger seats). Can the XKE handle this same capacity?

The XKE should be able to handle this - and why not (as I try and convince myself)?

Well… the more I thought about this “replacement” idea, the more I thought of “archery”. It’s fantastic seeing these classic cars on the road once-in-a-great-while - and the XKE is truly a rare sight on the road. There are very good reasons why you only see them once in a blue moon. It’s not that their engine’s ability is poor - it’s everything else. Here’s a few that come to mind.

Safety is nowhere near equal to modern cars (steering, suspension, etc)

Quality of luxuries have a short life (heater, ac, window tracks, seals, etc)

Brakes and side-impact protection… old school is not what you want here

I can probably continue to nit-pick but you get the picture. Things break - and with older cars, they break sooner. Unless you replace those old parts with modern materials, they’re just going to have short life spans (obviously, it depends on what part and how much exposure to wear).

Obviously, a bow made with modern materials will perform better and last longer. But in the end, the bow is still old technology. And like archery, I had to walk away from the XKE. Just as I had walked away from my 1964 Volvo P1800. And soon, the XJS won’t be too far behind when used frequently with this mindset.

Of course, if you have the room to save your old classic for weekend cruises, then by all means… do it. And don’t wait to live great.

As a fan, I’m reading free online reports (hear that Kawakami? It’s the internet - it’s free) about the latest Raiders draft picks and ran across this post:

http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/4110782

Who do we have here: Suzy Kolber, Trent Dilfer, Cris Carter, Tom Jackson and a backup quarterback for the NY Giants who is probably more famous for his The Bachelor episode than any throw he’s made. The article is about Mike Mitchell - a safety who I believe could be something special in the NFL. Yet the video is a rant-off about the Raider’s 7th overall pick - Darrius Heyward-Bey.

I’ll let you watch it for yourself but I walk away with a couple of things:

1. Carter is a classless punk. I no longer feel sympathy for you for not winning the big dance. And I hope that you were DHB’s role model so that he will have a big chip on his shoulder.
2. Trent Dilfer… I don’t know where you end and where Carter begins because you’re really up Carter’s ass. By the way, didn’t you lose your 49er position to… hmmm some guy I have never heard of… oh yeah - Shaun Hill - wasn’t he an undrafted free agent signed by the Vikings eight years ago?
3. Tom Jackson… is he still alive? When is he going to just go away? I guess I would be bitter too had I lost to the Raiders as much as he did.
4. Jesse Palmer - what dropped balls? How many? Stop repeating Mel Kiper and show me the f-ing highlights on the dropped balls? I can’t find any on the web. Besides, wasn’t Palmer a 4th rounder in 2001? Oh and he never played…. right….
5. Suzy Kolber - how can you yukk it up with these imbeciles and then proceed to interview Darrius… that was wrong. No wonder you’re still NOT in a prime time ESPN show. Can you go back to commentating gymnastics?

And here are some memorable quotes that I stumbled upon…
“I’ll see you at his hall of fame induction” - Mel Kiper about WR Mike Williams.

“that’s why they keep picking number two every year” - Mel Kiper about RB Marshall Faulk after the Colts selected him. (Faulk had a great career and the year he was drafted the Colts improved to 8-8 and the following season they made the playoffs).

One last note: whenever I see these sites that talk about DHB or Mitchell or Raiders draft in general, there are plenty of non-Raiders fans chiming in… my question is “what are you guys doing in these sites? Don’t you have your own team to worry about?” If the Raiders are going to suck yet again in 2009, then what are you blabbering about - worry about someone who will compete with you then - don’t waste your time with the Raiders because we won’t matter much anyway, right?

And there were plenty of ex-Raider fans going off about burning their allegiance. Great. Don’t let the door hit you on your way off the Raider wagon.